Arsenal flop looks to join Trabozanspor as Saudi deal collapses

The transfer window in Turkey remains open until the next week, with the Gunners hoping to offload another player.

Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe is reportedly leaning toward a move to Turkish side Trabozanspor.

Pepe has failed to live up to expectations at Emirates after completing a £72m move from Lille in 2019. Mikel Arteta allowed the Frenchman to spend the last season on loan at Nice. But it seems the 28-year-old has found no place in Arteta’s project at Arsenal.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Pepe is “not convinced” by offers from Saudi Arabia. The winger is reportedly prioritizing a move to Trabozanspor before the transfer window in Turkey closes next week.

Another report from Evening Standard claims that Besiktas are also in the race to sign Pepe. According to the English outlet, Arsenal are keen to offload Pepe, who has no prospect of getting enough playing time this season.

Pepe has been without a shirt number at Arsenal since the club gave the No.19 jersey to Leandro Trossard after his transfer in January.

Since joining the Gunners, Pepe has made a total of 112 appearances for the club across all competitions, registering 27 goals and 21 assists.

Pepe could become the eighth player to leave Arsenal since the beginning of the summer transfer window. Other departures include Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka, Matt Turner, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty, Rob Holding, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The Gunners also loaned out seven players during the summer transfer window.